Starting-gear connection for explosive-engines.



Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Ffigu n DpBRACE.

STARTING GEAR CONNECTION FOR EXPLOSIV-E ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 24' I916.

:IDELBERT BRACE, or ELMI-RA HEIGHTS, NEW YORK.

STARTING-GEAR CONNECTION FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knowntha-t I, DELBERT BRACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira Heights, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented certain newf'and useful Improvements in Starting-GearConnections for Explosives Engines, of which the following is a speci j fication. I This inventionrelates 170C6It2lIl-DGW and useful improvements in starting .gear con' nections for explosive" engines. g I

The primary-object of the invention is the provisionof a gear connectionbetween a. starting motorand the fly Wheel of an explosive engine whereby the load .of the motor is takenup gradually in cushioned relations to the fly wheel during the starting operation. 7 1

A further object of the device is the provision of an explosive engine for preventing any sudden jerk or pull between said members upon starting the motor, thereby affording more power during the starting operation by turning the fly wheel after the motor has gained proper momentum.

A still further object of the device is to provide a gear connection between the shaft of a starting motor and the fly wheel of an explosive engine which cushions the impact of operation, the connection being automatically engaged and disengaged by the starting and stopping of the motor.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing forming a part of this application and wherein like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fly wheel and motor provided with the prescut device. v Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof partially broken away with the gears operatively arranged and,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, parts being shown in section with the starting motor gear inoperatively arranged.

The present device is serviceable in con-r nection with any form of starting motor Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22,1212;

I Application filed October 24, 1916. Serial No. 127,426.

for explosive engines and is herein illustrated in connection with an electric motor 10 adapted for initially turning the fly wheel 11 of an explosive engine, not shown. An annular gear 12 in the form of a sleeve is slidably arrangedupon the periphery 13 of the wheel 11 preferably having an overlying flange 14'at one edge of the fly wheel,

' it being. understood that .the gear 12 is provided with teeth 13 adapted to mesh with a pinion 14 arranged upon the shaft 15 l ,oflthe motor 10.

" "A resilient connection is arranged between the gear 12 and the fly wheel 13 whereby the impulse of the motor 10 is absorbed prior to turning the wheel 11 thereby allowing the motor to pick up speed before exerting its force upon the engine shaft, the impulse upon the fly wheel 11 being gradual resulting in more easily and evenly starting the explosive engine;

A plurality of grooves 16 are provided in the wheel periphery 13 within which coil springs 17 are positioned inwardly of the gear 12 which latter overlies the grooves 16. Corresponding ends of the springs 17 engage the forward ends 18 of the groove 16 while pins 19 extend radially inwardly from the gear. 12 into the grooves 16 in contact with the opposite ends of the said springs 17.

Upon starting the motor pinion 14 to revolve in the starting operation in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and with the said pinion in mesh with the gear 12, the said gear will he slidably moved upon the fly wheel 11. which is at rest, thereby compressing the springs 17 while the pins 19 move toward the ends 18 of the grooves 16. When the springs 17 are sufficiently compressed to exert sufficient power upon the ends 19 of the grooves 16. to turn the wheel 11, the said wheel will be initially revolved by the continued movement of the pinion 14 during the starting operation.

The above resilient connections for the motor pinion and engine fly wheel may be employed where any form of motor and pinion are provided for starting the engine. In the present instance however, the pinion 14 is loosely threaded upon the spiral threads 20 of the motor shaft 15 whereby a starting of the motor 10 results in an outward movement of the pinion 14 until the p1I11OI1 engages a head 21 at the outer free end of the motor shaft then being in mesh with the gear 12. It will be seen that the shifting of the pinion 14 to its meshing engagement with the gear 12 is automatic in its operation, the outward movement of the pinion until the same begins its engagement With the gear 12 resulting from the rapid revolving of the shaft 15 within the stationary pinion, while at such time the pinion 14 may be restrained from revolution by slidable engagement with a pin or similar member carried stationary upon the motor 10 and believed unnecessary to illustrate herein.

After the fly wheel 11 has revolved sufficiently to start the engine, the speed of the engine and wheel 11 will exceed that of the pinion 14 as said pinion and its motor 10 will then cease operating, whereby the pinion 14 will be moved inwardly upon the screw threads 20 of the then stationary m0- tor shaft 15, resulting in the automatic disengagement of the pin-ion 14 from the gear 12. A serviceable arrangement is provided in which the connection between a starting motor and an explosive engine is cushioned against shocks and jars, the same being serviceable with an automatic release and engaging means for the pinion of the starting motor.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described is what is believed to be the preferred embodiment thereof, it is nevertheless to be understood that various forms, modifications and arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

WVhat I'claim as new is A device of the class described comprising in combination with the fly wheel of an explosive engine having a peripheral groove, a helical spring fitting within said groove engaging the forward end of the latter, an annular gear slidably arranged peripherally of the said wheel overlying the sald groove and having an inwardly-extending flange overlying the adjacent edge of the wheel, and an inwardly extending pin carried by the said gear projecting within the said groove engaging the opposite rearward end of the spring.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DELBERT BRACE. 

